Member Avatar for CodeBoy101

Hey wassup? I need to know how to detect arrow keysand the escape key, and any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

  • 3 Contributors
  • 9 Replies
  • 359 Views
  • 5 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by CodeBoy101

Dani AI

Generated

's conio.h approach is a perfectly serviceable quick hack in Dev‑C++ (MinGW). is also correct that conio.h is non‑standard, so code that relies on it won't be portable and can behave differently between compilers. For a more robust console solution on Windows, the console input API returns key events with virtual‑key codes (VK_LEFT, VK_RIGHT, VK_UP, VK_DOWN, VK_RETURN, VK_ESCAPE), which avoids multi‑byte sequences for special keys.

The following minimal example shows how to read console key events and handle arrow keys, Enter and Escape reliably:

#include <windows.h>
#include <iostream>

int main() {
    HANDLE hIn = GetStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE);
    INPUT_RECORD ir;
    DWORD read;

    while (ReadConsoleInput(hIn, &ir, 1, &read)) {
        if (ir.EventType != KEY_EVENT) continue;
        KEY_EVENT_RECORD &k = ir.Event.KeyEvent;
        if (!k.bKeyDown) continue; // handle key-down only

        switch (k.wVirtualKeyCode) {
            case VK_LEFT:  std::cout << "Left\n";  break;
            case VK_RIGHT: std::cout << "Right\n"; break;
            case VK_UP:    std::cout << "Up\n";    break;
            case VK_DOWN:  std::cout << "Down\n";  break;
            case VK_RETURN: std::cout << "Enter\n"; break;
            case VK_ESCAPE: std::cout << "Escape\n"; break;
            default:
                if (k.uChar.AsciiChar) std::cout << "Char: " << k.uChar.AsciiChar << '\n';
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

Notes and troubleshooting: check bKeyDown to avoid duplicating key‑up events; compile with #include <windows.h> in Dev‑C++; run the program from an existing console (or add a brief wait at the end) so the window doesn't disappear immediately. For cross‑platform console apps prefer ncurses/PDCurses; for windowed programs use the GUI/event API (WM_KEYDOWN in Win32, or an SDL/SFML event loop). This complements 's quick method while addressing portability and more predictable handling of special keys.

Recommended Answers

All 9 Replies

Member Avatar for Ancient Dragon

If you are writing a console program then see these console functions. Not immediately sure which one(s) you need to use. You might also look through some of

Member Avatar for dougy83

You can also use the functions from conio.h, kbhit() and getch(). up/down/left/right return 2 codes, while esc return 1 code.

if(kbhit()){
         int ch = 0 | getch();
         if(ch == 0xe0 && kbhit()){     // extended character (0xe0, xxx)
            ch = (ch<<8) | getch();     // get extended xharaxter info
            }
         switch(ch){
            case 0x1b:    cout << "ESC pressed" << endl;break;
            case 0xe048:    cout << "Up pressed" << endl;break;
            case 0xe050:    cout << "Down pressed" << endl;break;
            case 0xe04b:    cout << "Left pressed" << endl;break;
            case 0xe04d:    cout << "Right pressed" << endl;break;            
            default:    cout << "Some other key pressed " << hex << (int)(unsigned char)ch << " '" << (char)ch << "'" << endl;break;
            }
         cout << endl;
         }
Member Avatar for Ancient Dragon

>>You can also use the functions from conio.h,
Only if his compiler supports those functions. They are non-standard and only a few compilers support them.

Member Avatar for dougy83

Dev-c++ supports these functions

Member Avatar for CodeBoy101

Hey doug, thanks for your suggestion, I tried to create a program with the code you submitted, but the thing is, when I try to run the exe., the window opens, and then closes, just like that, so I was wondering, how would I use thins code in a program?
(^ _ ^) Thanx!

Member Avatar for dougy83

You'll probably want to run it in a loop - the code I gave only checks once for a keypress. so:

while(1){
   [ insert the keychecking code I posted here...]
   Sleep(1);   // don't use 100% cpu
   }
Member Avatar for CodeBoy101

Thanks, it worked like a charm. I should have mentioned that I need the code for enter as well, but I suppose it would be wise to ask for the codes as many keys as possible. Thanks!!
(^ _ ^)

Member Avatar for dougy83

Why don't you try running the program and pressing the enter key. The program will display the code for the key. Then you can put the key code as a case in the switch() just like what has been done for the other keys. This way you can find out any key code you need.

commented: Very helpful, this guy is a reason to be on Daniweb! +1
Member Avatar for CodeBoy101

Thanks a lot!!

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.